September 18
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10
The work of the Spirit is to minister the knowledge of God to those who wait on Him. Here there is a need for great patience, for God is not like us – He does not aim to give us superficial thrills. We must wait patiently and quietly, stilling the ceaseless stream of thoughts and questions. These will act as a barrier, until they are steadily set aside and we begin to hear and see the wonder of God. It is to the waiting heart that the truths of infinite love and everlasting Being are revealed. Then the true meaning of worship is unfolded. For God does not seek honour as the supreme ruler of the universe; He seeks the worship of loving hearts. He seeks to occupy a deeper position than that of ruler. Loving hearts abandon themselves to God’s Being without condition, without reserve and without ulterior motive. Some of us do this quickly, others learn to yield as our stubborn hearts are softened more and more. Some of us have to pass through all the selfish reasons why we need God, until we begin to love God for Himself. God is not worshipped on the basis of need, and so true rest is discovered beyond our need. The Spirit of God leads us to be stripped of all personal plans and ambitions, of all other competing affections, until we are left with nothing but our naked spirit to pour out at His feet in abandoned worship and love.
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